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(No Model.)

' H. LEHMANN.

I FASTENING FOR POCKET BOOKS. No. 351,327. Patented Oct. 19, 1886.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERIWIANN LEHIWIANN, OF OFFENBACILONTHE-MAIN, GERMANY.

FASTENING FOR POCKET-BOOKS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 351,327, dated October 19,1886.

(No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, HERMANN LEHMANN, a subject of the Emperor of Germany, residing at Offenbach-on-the-Main, in the German Empire, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Clasps; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification.

My invention relates to clasps for purses, pocket-books, cigar-cases, 81c. and it consists in the combination of two tubes, with a flexible rod secured to one of them in such a manner that a hook, which is carried by said tube, is freed by pressing down the rod.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 represents the clasp-frame; Figs. 2, 3, the locking device (closed and open) in longitudinal section, and Fig. 4 a section on an enlarged scale.

To one section of the frame r of the clasp is attached a tube, a, in which is secured centrally a flexible rod, 0. This rod or lever c carries on its free arm the tube 1), to which is secured the hook 1). By means of this construction the hook can be pressed down and released, thus opening the fastening. The hook p of the tube b grasps the lower part of the frame 1-, Fig. 4, andthus holds together the two parts of the frame 1' and rthat is, locks the same. The hook p is prevented from being torn from the frame '1' by two lugs or stops, which abut against the frame 7*. By

pressing on the tube b the hook p is released from the frame r, and the frame is unlocked.

Bypressing together the two parts of the frame 1' and r, the hook p is forced down, and by springing back into the frame I" it locks it. By this method of construction for locking devices I am enabled to give it the outward appearance of an ordinary hinge. The actual hinge attachment 9 on the opposite side of the frame is made of such a form that any one unfamiliar with the construction would suppose the opening of the clasp to be on that side. It will be seen that this construction will deceive the uninitiated, and in many cases it can be opened only by those familiar with the peculiar construction.

The abovedescribed locking device may be applied to all clasps for pocket-books, cigar and cigarette cases, letter-cases, presses, and articles of a similar character.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters HERMANN LEHMANN.

lVitnesses:

ALVEsTo S. HOGUE, JEAN GRUND. 

